Chapter 5
The Monster of Eterna Forest
There is a sense of inner sorrow in Mr. Evan's eyes every time he stares at me, a deep sense of emptiness. A decorated war veteran, even though he was just a field medic, being one of the few who survive the Massacre of Marten, he is still deeply scarred at what happened. In fact, the very name of the charity group that he found and lead is named after his late comrades, Dr. Jonathan Talbot, and Dr. Christopher Fenrir. Both were killed in action in the Massacre. The sorrow could also be from his son, Jonathan Evans, who is believed dead ever since his kidnapping some years ago. – The Daily Times, An Interview with Adam Evans
My name is Jonathan Evans, and I will survive. I will not let them take me back. I will not let them continue experimenting on me. I don't even care if that thing is personally retrieving me. I will survive.
Eterna Forest, I've been in hiding for who knows how long now. Eating fruit, berries and meat from the pokemon I hunt. What they did to me. What they're going to do to everyone else. I have to stop them.
But who's going to trust a monster?
Meton feels uncomfortable in the odd clothes given to him from the stranger. But the city has its laws, and like the tribe's, it must be followed, no matter how uncomfortable it is. He begins to scratch himself as they walk the streets of Lilycove, the fur of the clothes seems abrasive to his skin. They then stop in front of a busy street, waiting for something to happen.
"Do be careful now." The Stranger said to him, "We don't want to make a scene here after all." The Stranger said as, and Meton's eyes widen in confusion, he pulls out a black brass tipped cane from the inside of his blazer. "Now, chin up, stand straight, and walk like you live here." A car passes by and splashes the group with water, except not a single drop hit the Stranger at all. Then the box changes to show a green walking man and the wet crowd begins to cross the street. No one noticed the odd event, Meton would think.
'Who, or what is this person?' Meton thought as they head to the Lilycove Airport.
'Day two of the case.' Samantha Jones thought as she goes to her friends. 'The fact that I have nothing is bad. A small break is in order.' She said as she walks in a more casual way, making sure her body language shows someone who is normal, who is a target, who is weak.
"Samantha!" Her friend shouted from the group. "So, you got my message?"
"Yes," She said with a smile, "I look forward to it." They group then walk towards the nearest mall while Samantha resigns herself for some rest and relaxation.
"I can't believe it!" A Machop said to a fellow Machop as she punches a training dummy. The area of the dojo they're in is rather empty at the moment. The other Machop, who's sitting on a bench, is busy reading the Haven Inquirer while carefully turns the page as if it was made from ancient papyrus. He knows the physical strength a Machop can do.
"That you ended up being kidnapped by someone you trust?" The other Machop said.
"That, and the fact that I got turned into a Machop! I may be a martial artist but I do girly things from time to time." She then end her spar and turn to the other Machop. "Now look at me!" She then moves her hands down. The other Machop looks at her in an impartial way, analyzing both her voice and action before returning to the newspaper.
"I still don't see your point." He said, "In my opinion, it's a blessing in disguise, while it is unfortunate for us to end up becoming pokemon, you have become a better fighter, me, on the other hand, have lost the need of glasses, but I do prefer some form of eye wear." He then looks around, "We are also fortunate for the support of the other people who also suffered with this interesting condition."
"Will you stop acting like a big know-it-all? Tell me, what's the difference between a male Machop and a female Machop, appearance wise? And what about Machoke?"
"There are no physical differences between the males and the females of the Machop line, Mabel." The Machop then lowered the newspaper for a moment when the realization hits. "You're worried about your femininity?" He said as he looks at her.
"Nnooo," She said in a sarcastic tone, "I'm worried that I'm going to lose the next match. Of course I'm worried!"
"You must have some skewered priorities if you worry about ending up being pokemon bodybuilder."
"How about you? You're a Machop as well Max." She said with her arms crossed.
"Unlike you, I restrain myself from such futile endeavors as I stand to improve a more important priority, the improvement of the mind. Being physically transformed into a pokemon is simply a minor hindrance with its upsides and downsides."
"And you said my priorities are skewered."
"To worry over appearances is simply a worry over one's self-esteem, self-confidence, and self-image. I, for one, have no need to deal with my physical appearance in terms of aesthetics. But," He said with worry, "I am worried on the implications on the mind-brain question, and the possible likelihood of mental alteration." Mabel can understand what he meant by that. "Another is the fact that due to the higher percentage of males in the Machop line, I prefer not to debase myself in possible wanton acts of bodily posing, combat, and sex when you enter mating season." This made Mabel's face red, in embarrassment or anger he doesn't care, while Max just continue reading the paper.
"Really Max, really? Have you ever heard of tact?"
"I'm just stating out both my opinions and the obvious facts here." Max said as they didn't notice Arnold and George walking by. "At least Ace wasn't there when Ms. Monroe did whatever she did to us." This made Arnold turn to face the two.
"Wait," Arnold said as the two walk towards them, "Did I just hear you say Ms. Monroe? As in Ms. Monroe of Thomas Fenton University?" He asked. This made Mabel suspicious.
"Yeah, why you ask?" She said as she crossed her arms.
"The name's Arnold MacIntyre. Are you two students from the university as well."
"Arnold? You can't be Arnold, I just met him at the martial arts tournament." Mabel said.
"That must be the Ditto doppelganger Ms. Monroe replaced me with." Arnold said as he scratch the back of his head.
"Wait," Max said, "Ditto doppelganger? Does that mean there's a Ditto replacement for us as well?"
"Most likely, yes." Arnold said with a nod.
"But why?" Max said as he stands up and rubs his chin in thought, "Why do this? What's the real purpose of all of this? What's the goal that would require such vast and unethical experimentation?" There was no reply.
Somewhere in the virtual world of the planetary network, Paul is in deep thought. Looking around in his original form, he sees the ones and zeros of information, the bytes of data, moving around the seemingly endless landscape in light speed. He can analyze and understand the knowledge within. He can enter and leave any electronic device connected to the network except one. In front of him is a blank region, an area where his advance artificial mind can't enter. His tendrils wiggle in both curiosity and contempt.
"[How?]" He thought in his alien tongue, "[How can such an obvious anomaly slip my notice? How can such a primitive network prevent me from entering it? How can a pre-stellar civilization create such a firewall?]" His eyes then narrowed, "[This needs more research.]" The holographic AI then vanishes, returning back to his home computer.
Inside the plane, Meton can't help but feel both relieved and unnerved. Relieved due to the feeling of being in the air, like he's flying with the Swellow, and unnerved due to the fact that he's flying in a giant metal plane. He heard of his grandmother's tales of the city folk and their way of life, but to experience it first hand is both mind boggling and surreal.
"Where are we going?" Meton asked the Stranger, who's sitting next to him, as he looks out the window.
"To meet a friend, if we're going to find the scale, we're going to need all the help we can get, and I know just the person for the job."
"Did you contact that person then?" Meton asked as he turns to face the Stranger.
"No, I want to surprise them first."
"It's not considered good manners if you surprise them." Meton said in a tense tone at the Stranger, "Unless you have decided to attack them." He then returns to the window, "But it's very likely for that person to be a city folk, such strange laws and customs." He muttered as the plane continues to fly up in the sky.
Andrew is busy searching for Jonathan as he continues the hike. He could make things easier for himself, but he would end up in trouble and it would make the thrill of the search boring. He remembers the twists and turns of the search, and how he found a larger conspiracy in the shadows.
'And this all started by a letter in dad's secret room.' He thought as he remembers what happened.
Despite the fact that his parents are divorced for some strange reasons, they both still love each other. It has always been the situation where they both love each other and hate each other at the same time, and it started when his godfather interrupted them in some event, what that event is, he's in the dark.
"As the chosen heir of the Jones Estate by your father's last will and testament," He remembered what the lawyer said all those months ago, "I kindly ask you to stay and help in organizing the family's properties. While you are too young, and mourning your father's death-"
"They didn't find the body." He said to the lawyer as he spread the search reports on the large table of the family's study. "Dad has to be alive." The lawyer stayed silent as Andrew looked over his dad's schedule.
"Your father has been missing for at least a month now, Mr. Jones. There was no ransom call, no signs of a struggle in the last place he was seen, and his body would have most likely to have either decayed or eaten by now. I'm sorry to say this, but Mr. Henry Jones is most likely to be dead." Tears begun to fall from the teenager's eyes. "I'll take this as my time to leave. I'm sorry for your loss." The lawyer said as he leaves the room.
"He can't be dead." Andrew said as he locked the doors and windows of the study. "I would have felt it." He then stood in front of a large oil painting of his ancestor. He then walked to the bookshelf under it and pressed the hidden button behind the books. The painting then pulled back, slide to the side, and revealed a hidden room. "I know he wants this a secret from everyone." He said as he entered the room. "But it might be the only place where I can find out what he's actually doing." He then walked down the flight of stairs as the painting slide back to the wall.
When he reached the bottom of the stairs, he found himself in front of an underground study. The furnishings are modern as he looked around the place but one thing shocked him the most. Two mannequins, one empty and the other is wearing a dark purple outfit which consists of a top hat, a mask with a Haunter's fanged smile, a muffler with brass chains in its front, a pair of pants, a blazer, boots, gloves, and a white buttoned shirt.
"I can't believe it." Andrew said as he looks at the mannequin closely. "My dad's the Haunter Thief? I know he does some random things during his time alone, but I didn't think it'll be something like this." He then frowned when he saw the mask. It reminded him of his dad's pokemon. "I miss Atropos. He's probably with dad right now." He then closed his eyes and begun to sense the energy around him. He felt the energy playing in his mind like a simple recording. He felt two beings, one of them walk down the stairs, the other floating around, his dad and his Haunter. He then felt the energy move to the empty mannequin, move to the desk, and then leave with the other energy.
'So there's something about the desk then.' He thought as he walked towards the desk. 'But what?'
The desk itself is ornate and clean and, given the apparent occupation his dad is in, there might be hidden compartments in it. He first pulled the drawer after unlocking it with his special abilities. In it is a journal written in code, books on esoteric subjects such as magic and aura manipulation, research notes on genetic engineering and fossil resurrection, and a letter.
To Henry Bartholomew Jones,
There is something strange going on. I have written it down in the journal. I want you to find out the truth about this. You owe me this for what you've done.
- A
'Dad owed someone and now he's finding something out?' Andrew thought as he looked at the journal. As he made a quick flip of its pages he noticed a card falling out, a business card of the Talbot and Fenrir Charity Group. 'A charity group? This doesn't make any sense.' He thought as he looked at the journal.
"Paul." He said in a loud tone.
"Yes Young Master Jones?" A voice echoed in the room.
"I knew it." Andrew muttered to himself, "I want you to decode this journal for me, and don't tell my mother about this." He said as Paul appeared in front of him, in his usual formal looking black uniform.
"No problem. I can understand the need for privacy. Master Jones wants this room to be kept secret but as the family butler, it is my duty to keep the mansion clean and orderly."
"So dad knows that you know?"
"Yes and no. I usually clean up when they're not around."
"They being?"
"Your father and his Haunter."
"Oh, right." Andrew said as he headed up into the study. "Call me in a secure line once you decoded the journal ok." He then turned around to look at the realistic holographic AI, "Thanks for helping me Paul."
"Just doing my job Young Master." Paul said as he then vanished with the journal, and with that Andrew returned to the study. The journal, as it turns out, was written by a missing genetics researcher in the Kalos Region, talking about the suspicious activity going on in the Talbot and Fenrir Charity Group. The search has leaded him to find the not-so-missing-and-dead Jonathan Evans whose last known location was in Eterna Forest.
But other than the usual pokemon living their normal lives, Andrew can't seem to find the guy. Looking around, he knows he have to hurry. So he closes his eyes and senses all the energies around him. Aura, magic, life force, chi, energy, he senses it all using his special ability.
'Pokemon, pokemon, plant, berry, rock, plant, pokemon, rock, berry, rock, plant, pokemon…' He thought as he mentally analyzes his surroundings. That is until he notices something off. 'What's this?' He thought as he concentrates his focus on a particular being. 'Not human, yet not pokemon. Interesting…' Andrew then turns towards the general direction of the being.
Samantha Jones is at the spa treatment, relaxing as in her bathrobe with her face in the usual towel turban, cucumber eye covers, and green facial mask.
"Oh, this feels heavenly." Her friend muttered as she gets her back massaged.
"It's like a dream to me." Another one of her friends said.
"It's more like being treated like royalty. Oh yeah, there, higher, right there, oh man." The massaged friend replied. A man carrying a phone walks to Samantha.
"You have a call madam." He said.
"Hello?" Samantha said as she takes the call, "Oh hello, it's been awhile. I already have a case, very well. Since it's that important for you, yes I'll go there soon." She said as she returns the phone.
"What was it?" Her friend asked.
"Oh, just an old friend I met during my travels with my other friend." She said as she returns to relaxing. "I'll go once we're done."
"How did you meet this friend?" The friend asked.
"He helped me foil a bombing and a robbery. I do owe him a favor when a particular incident occurred." She said causing a rather awkward silence to fall in the room.
"So," A friend said to end the silence, "I hear Bobby won his first contest…"
"I still don't understand this." Max said as the group eats their fruit and berries. "In what purpose would anyone stand to gain by doing this?"
"Maybe you should stop thinking about this Max." Mabel said, "I mean you might end up forgetting to sleep again."
"Sleep is just an action that takes away too much precious time and effort. Once technology has advance in the future, going to sleep would be considered both quaint and archaic." He said in irritation as he takes a bite on an apple.
"I don't know about you three." George said as he fixes his uniform, "But my class is starting soon." He waves good bye and leaves.
"We can use pokemon moves, right?" Max asked the two.
"Of course, but we might need some training for it to work properly." Arnold answered. Max can only look away and as he rubs his snout in deep thought a small grin appears.
"Excellent." He whispered as he turns back to the two. "I decide to join this school." This shocks Mabel.
"Is that you, or the Machop body talking?" She ask in bewilderment. "I mean, even as a Machop, I doubt you can actually be a good fighter. I mean, I'm the one who keeps protecting you from bullies, and besides, a smart aleck like you would prefer a library or that Psychic place than, what was it, 'testosterone driven battle lusting tough guys'."
"Don't worry about me Mabel. I'm in complete control over my thoughts and actions. And while I thank you for protecting me in the past years, I would love to learn some self defense as well. Besides, Machops are famous for their heighten learning, how would they learn a great number of martial arts otherwise." Max said as he too leaves for the councilor's office. Mabel simply sighs.
"I hope Ace is ok at least." She muttered.
Ace is slowly waking up as the first thing he notices in his new Paras body is the fact that he's in what looks like an underground dungeon.
"Ah," A Primeape said in a calm tone in the cell across his. "You're awake. Don't be alarmed at me or your appearance. But, because of your unfortunate species, you're under quarantine."
"W-what? I don't-" Ace then paused in horror when he notice his pincers.
"You're a Paras. The Outpost search and rescue team found you unconscious in the woods and send you here." A Hypno in a lab coat then walks by with a Chansey behind him. The Monk simply returns to his meditation.
"Ah, you're awake. I'm Doctor Joseph Giles. What's your name?"
"It's Ace Stevens. What just happened to me?"
"We don't know exactly but now we must prevent the Tochukaso from gaining another mind." He said as he enters the cell and the Chansey, carrying a tray with a knife and a bottle filled with something, follow behind him. Dr. Giles then pulls out a pendulum on a string and starts to us Hypnosis on the frighten Paras. "Sleep, rest, you will feel better, let your mind wander in your dreams." Once Ace has fallen asleep, the doctor and nurse quickly removes the mushrooms and apply the fungicide on Ace's back.
I must hide. Someone's looking for me. I can feel it. My instincts are on high alert, which is strange, given that there are no armed men looking for me this time. Perhaps he was able to create some super soldier to get me. Either way, I must hide. I flee the area, going to one of my nearby hideouts.
'I sensed him.' Andrew thought as he feels his quarry running from him.
"Jonathan! Jonathan Evans! Come out! Don't be afraid! I'm here to help you!" He shouted as he runs towards his general direction, until he stops under a large old tree. On its branches, a hidden figure watches carefully.
I look at the person below me. Strange, my mind is practically screaming to flee, as if he has some sort of great power. But he got me cornered. At least I'm safe; all he's doing is just standing there with his eyes close.
'Focus Andrew focus. He's nearby, I can feel it.' He thought at he uses his powers to pinpoint the being, 'Look up, he's hiding in the branches.' A strange feminine voice echoed in his mind. Acting on pure instinct, Andrew raises his hand up and use his power on the tree's branches. A loud thud is heard and when he look at where the being had fallen, the sight surprised him in shock.